house Bill H.R. 1104

Tax Break: Should you be Able to Make Tax-Deductible Donations to More Types of Organizations?

Argument in favor

This bill expands the kind of organizations that people can make tax-exempt donations to. All of these organizations have to have pro-social aims, and people be able to get tax breaks for supporting organizations that support the nation.

Argument opposed

This bill expands the kind of organizations to which people can make tax-exempt donations. It says that they all have to have pro-social aims, but since when is the NFL doing social good for the country? This would allow for some serious tax-dodging.

Too easy to become one of these "tax break" organizations. Someone else mentioned the one I am furious about. The "non profit NFL" who has now become a pseudo government within our country. Taxpayers paying for stadiums, a billionaire's club with lavish suites, blackouts. The Congress shows their gutless backsides ignoring this "non profit" elephant. Foundations, non profits, "economic development counsels", are epidemic now dodging taxes. Let's encourage more fraud? NO!

What is House Bill H.R. 1104?

This bill would expand the types of organizations that people can offer tax-deductible donations to. Under current law, donations above $14,000 are subject to taxes — but this bill would ensure that donations would be tax-exempt, provided that they were given to:

Civic leagues and employee associations that promote social welfare;

Agricultural and labor organizations;

Business organizations and leagues like chambers of commerce, real estate and trade boards;

The deductions would only apply to donations made after the bill’s passage. It also comes with a note not to make inferences about its affect on the transfer of property. So, you know, don’t do that.

Impact

People that donate to civic leagues, employee associations, agricultural organizations, labor organizations and business organizations, these groups, and the IRS.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 1104

$0.00

The CBO found that implementing this bill would have no impact on the Federal budget.

More Information

In Depth:

This bill amends Section 2252 of the monolith that is the IRS tax code. As you might expect, this is the section that outlines what kinds of organizations people can make tax-deductible donations to. The ones already on that list include:

The U.S. government;

A fraternal or social organization that is using the donation solely for charity;

A veterans’ organization, providing none of the donation goes to a shareholder or private individual;

A foundation, fund, corporation or trust dedicated to religion, amateur sports, education, science, literature, the prevention of cruelty to animals, the prevention of child abuse or other kinds of charity.

Of Note:

In his press release, Sponsoring Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) explains that his legislation is a response to a letter sent by the IRS wherein it threatened to tax large donations to non-profits. The IRS has been under Republican scrutiny since 2010, when it was revealed that it was specifically telling employees to look for Tea Party organizations to investigate with harsher scrutiny.

But while donations to non-profit groups might seem innocent, a particular type of donation has recently come under its own scrutiny by government transparency groups. 501(c)4s, the “civic organizations” mentioned above, have become major sources of campaign money that don’t have to reveal their donors. Giving them an exemption from taxes could make these shadowy backers even more powerful.

Too easy to become one of these "tax break" organizations. Someone else mentioned the one I am furious about. The "non profit NFL" who has now become a pseudo government within our country. Taxpayers paying for stadiums, a billionaire's club with lavish suites, blackouts. The Congress shows their gutless backsides ignoring this "non profit" elephant. Foundations, non profits, "economic development counsels", are epidemic now dodging taxes. Let's encourage more fraud? NO!

The argument against makes sense but the bigger issue is the Citizens United issue...that is, the ultrawealthy can get to decide which social issues should be supported and again they could run the country. Perhaps coal could become a "social" issue because it keeps West Virginians and Kentuckians employed. While I am pro West Virginians and Kentuckians, I'd rather provide social aid programs that mine and use coal. We don't want the Koch Brothers spending tens or hundreds of millions of dollars promoting coal any more than they do!!!

With all the talk of deficits and budget cuts, we need to consider the importance of tax dollars; where they go and what they do. Things like education and infrastructure are important, but not often glamorous. I'd rather we chose representatives who respected the needs of society, and allotted tax dollars wisely. That seems better than playing the popularity lottery with truly important things.

"this would allow for some serious tax dodging"......YUP. that's a good thing! it would be legal! why do people think hard-working americans should pay more taxes than they legally have to? our taxes basically go to charity any way, it's just filtered through the government and left to their discretion. charity tax breaks cut out the middle man....you're still giving your money away! it's not greed! ugh!